Recently, I had the opportunity to sit down and speak with our mascot, Hunter the Ridgeback. We discussed what it was like to represent UOIT at sporting events, how you could represent your school as Hunter, and some of the best experiences while cheering on student-athletes at UOIT.

This month students have the rare opportunity to come out and support a team whose short season leave them little chance to host a competition at home.

The annual Varsity Dance Showcase hosted at the downtown Oshawa location in the Regent Theatre allows the dance team to showcase all of the dance routines they've been working on for their competitive season. The showcase will feature current and alumni dancers, with a variety of dance styles such as lyrical, contemporary, jazz, tap and ballet.

4 a.m. wake up calls. Six days a week. Catching crabs, Power 10, coxie, and Head of the Trent.

The words above are just some of what you'd learn when trying out for or being a part of the UOIT Ridgebacks rowing team, which just celebrated their 10th season at UOIT this past fall, and was among the first athletic programs established at the university.

"I wanted to be involved outside of the classroom, and at the time, UOIT only had tennis, rowing and hockey," explained rowing team alum and current team manager of the rowing team, Christie Atwood. "Rowing is a unique sport so the fact that UOIT offers it makes the athletic program just as unique."

Determination and a love for the game are crucial for any athlete to succeed, especially when the game they are playing is loved by their nation. With the honour of representing their school on the ice, members of the men's and women's UOIT Ridgebacks hockey teams have the unique opportunity many athletes don't. As the Ridgebacks program is still relatively new, student-athletes have the chance to make a name for themselves and UOIT.

One of the core building blocks in the UOIT athletic program is community involvement. Recently, the Ridgebacks have called on fellow athletes, students, fans, staff and faculty to help a cause close to one Ridgebacks team member's heart.

The support of the UOIT community can make a huge difference for a Ridgeback while fundraising during the school year, and could offer them a large platform to raise as much money as possible. This was the case for Carissa Giesbrecht, who plays attack on the women's lacrosse team. She raised money and donated her hair to the Canadian Cancer Society and their partner Pantene Beautiful Lengths this past February.

Choosing the right university to go to can be a daunting decision, especially taking into consideration everything that goes into a university education outside of homework and classes. From extracurriculars and student life to the diverse athletic options, opportunities to become involved may be a bit overwhelming

But, fear not! I've done some research for you on UOIT's diverse and dynamic athletic program and spoken to current athletes, alumni and staff from the athletic department to see why becoming involved in sports at UOIT is so important for an undergraduate experience.

The Ridgebacks men's hockey team entered the winter break with a record of 10-5-1. The team wants to thank all of their fans who came out and supported them and to those who donated to the Holiday Food Drive.

The team's next home game is Wednesday, December 30 at 7:30 p.m. against Queen's Gaels.

In the UOIT Ridgebacks program, it's important to create a community where students can excel in their studies and also as athletes. However, the Ridgebacks' impact reaches far beyond the classroom or athletics competition as the importance of being involved in the community is also emphasized to all players.

At the end of October, the Ridgebacks men's hockey team had an overall record of 6-7-0, with the last win of the month against the Carleton Ravens of 3-1 on the debut game of new coach, Curtis Hodgins. The Ridgebacks sat in fifth at the end of October, with a 4-3-0 conference standing.

WOMEN'S HOCKEY

The women's Ridgebacks hockey teams' overall record by the end of October was 5-6-0, with their last game being a 3-1 loss against the Waterloo Warriors in the last weekend of October. The Warriors scored back-to-back goals in the final period to win, though the Ridgeback's had the game tied until then. The Ridgeback's conference record in October was 3-5-0.